Geain cleanee



Oct; 29, 1929.

.-1.l E. JoHNsoN GRAIN CLEANER Filed March 28, -1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENToR J f. daf/N50 ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 11929.- J. .JOHNSON 1,733,604

` GRAIN CLEANER FiledKMarch 28, 1927 v 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 lNvENToR E. JOHNSON BYMO.

ATTORNEYS 01129, 1929- J. E. JoHNsoN l 1,733,604.

GRAIN CLEANER Filed March 28, 1.9270 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 57 i o 65 v/""\ Of' o 45 67 67 f I 49 6@ 66 o 56 55g l' 65 `O 541 I" K ""f 67 50 2 l Aj ,67j 65 1 64 62 69 x5 6j y I 69 59 INVENTOR 57 d, A. Jo/wsow av mw, VCL.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN EDWARD JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS GRAIN CLEANER Application filed March 28, 1927. Serial No. 179,039.

My invention relates to improvements in grain cleaners, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a grain cleaner which separates from wheat all other grains and foreign substance. If wheat has a mixture of two to five per cent other grain, it is not considered as pure wheat and is sold at a lower price. If there is a mixture of more than five per cent other grain in the wheat, the wheat is sold for screenings at a low price.

A further obj ect of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which may be used separately or in connection with a thrashing machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which separates larger and relatively long grains, such as oats and barley, from the wheat and disposes them in .a separate compartment.

A. further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which will separate smaller grains and dust from the wheat and dispose them in another compartment.

A. further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which 0 separates the grains at a rapid rate of speed, thus making itpossihle for the device to be used with a thrashing machine.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is. a longitudinal sectional view of my device,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of my device,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the screens,

Figure 4 is a section substantially along the line 4-4of Figure 3,

l Figure 5 is a fragmentary portion of that shown in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the other screen,

Figure 7 is a section along the line 7 -7 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a section along the line 8--8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of 55 Figure 1,

Figure 10 is a modir'ied form of the cylinder oscillating means, and

Figure 11 is a section along the line 11-11 of Figure 10.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a casing 1 having a longitudinally extending shaft 2 rotatably mounted in the end walls 3 and 4 thereof. A. worm gear 5 is rigidly mounted upon one end of the shaft 2 and is 65 in mesh with a worm 6. rihe worm 6 is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 7 which is operatively connected to a power means, not shown.

A cylinder 9 has a bearing support 10 at one end thereof for receiving the shaft 2. 7o The opposite end of the cylinder 9 is rigidly secured to the end wall 3 by strips 11. Relatively small openings 12 are provided in the cylinder 9 and are adapted to be closed by a shutter 13. The shutter 13 is provided with 75 a plurality of relatively small openings 14 which are adapted to be moved into alignment with the openings 12. The shaft 2l is provided with a spiral 15, the lower portion of which is disposed adjacent the lower porso tion of the cylinder 9.

A revolving unit 1G isdisposed concentric with the shaft 2 and the cylinder 9. The unit 16 is composed of end plates or discs 17 and 18 which are connected to each other by angle 85 irons 19. An annular ring or track 2O is rigidly mounted upon the disc 17 and provided with an outwardly extending iange 21.

A plurality of spaced-apart supporting rollers 22 is rotatably carried by the end wall 3. 90 The supporting rollers 22 are disposed in engagement with the ring or track 20 for supporting the unit 16.

An inner spiral 23 is disposed concentric with the cylinder 9 and rigidly mounted 95 upon the inner row of angle irons 19. An inner screen 24 is disposed concentric with the spiral 23 and rigidly mounted thereupon. The screen 24 is constructed as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The screen proper is irregu- 100 lar in cross sectional contour, see Figure 4, and is provided with punched-out arcuateshaped integral lips 25. The lips 25 When they are punched out of the screen 24 form a circular adjacent opening 26. A pocket 27 is provided for each of the openings 26 and is rigidly secured tothe screen 24 `by .integral lugs 28. The 'lugs 28 extend through openings in the screen 24 and are crimped in place. The pockets 27 have tapered surfaces 29 Which taper outwardly from the openings f26 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A spiral 30 is rigidly mounted upon the outer row of angle irons19. An outer screen 31 is disposed concentric with the spiral 30 and is rigidly .secured thereto. rlhe screen 31 is provided With a plurality of staggered openings32. |The openings32, see Figures 6 and 7, are formed by first cutting the screen the length ofithe opening, and then :by forcing the metal upon one side of the cut inwardly,.as :indicated Aat 33, and on the other side of the cut outwardly,asindicated at 34. In `Figure i7, fit Will be observed fthatthe outvvardly extending portion 34 of one of the Qpenii'ngs `32 isdn alignment *with the inwardly extending portion 33 of the adjacent opening 32. The :Screen 31 stops short ot the end of the Vinner screen 24 and is provided with :a Wheat outlet 35. The 4inner screen 24 stops short of the disc `18. An outlet opening 36 is provided for the casing 1 for a `purpose hereinafter described.

.A;1elatively `small spiral 37 is rotatably disposed adjacent the lower portion ot the casing `l. .An opening 33 is Tprovided in the casing il adjacentone end `.of the spiral 37. flhe oppositefend ofthe spiral 37 is operatively connected to the spiral 15 by means of a chain 39.

A;sleeve ,40 having a threadedend 41 is disposed concentric With the shaft 2 and provided With a tapering portion 42. rlfhe sleeve iissecured to ithe shatt2 by a removable pin 43. An outer setof` agitator arms 44 is rovided with a hub 45 havinga tapered suri'hce 46 nWhich is adapted to engage with the tapered 4 surface 42 of the sleeve 40. The hub 45 is `disposed concentric With the Asleeve 49 and .fis `provided with a 4plurality of grooves 47. `An inner set of agitator arms 48 is providedwith a hub portion 49. Thehub portion 49 isdisposed concentric With the hub 45and is held in place by a cam lever 50.

The cam lever 50 is rotatably mounted upon the sleeve `4() :and is provided With tongue portions :51 `Which `are receivable in the grooves 47 of the hub 45.

.'Afringgean52fisrigdly mounted upon the end Wall 4concentric with the shaft 2. A pinion 53is -rigidlyfmounted upon a shaft 54 ationeiend-oftheicam lever 50. rllhe shaft 5.4isfrotatably carried by zthecam lever 50 and is `provided with iaieam 55. The cam551is provided Withwa plurality of enlarged ;,por-

tions 56 adjacent to Which are disposed immediately reduced portions 57. A cam roller 58 is rotatably carried by one of the outer agitator arms 44 and is disposed in engagement with the cam 55. The agitator arms 44 are provided at their outer ends with knockers or hammers 59. Flanges 60 areiintegral With the `.disc 18 `and extend voutwardly in engagement With the hammers 59. A lug 61 is integ- `ral With one ot the arms 44 and is provided with an opening for receiving a retaining .rod 62. One end of the retaining rod 62 is pivotally connected at 63 to the free end of `theicain lever.50. .A ytension spring 64 is disposed concentric With the other end of the rod 62=and :is held in .placeby La iving1nutf65. The tensionzofthe spring64anayibe lvariedlby `movement .of the :Wing :nut '65 upon .the fretaining rod 62. i

lhe agitator arms 48 are .provided with j collars 66 to Whicharc secured adjusting rods 6.7. The adjusting rods :67 `extend through flanges 68 which Vare integral with the disc 13. Gompressionzspringsz69aredisposedzconcentric with the :adjusting rods 26.7 .andare heldin place by AWing nuts 70. The ftension otthe-sji rings69 `maybe varied bythe ,movelnent of the Wing nuts 70 upon the adjusting rods 67. The.agitator arm-s 44 and `48 and tliecain lever59are heldinzplace by artapered nut [71. v:Grain .pipes 7 2 tand 7 3 Aextend from a main pipe 74. The pipe 773 text-ends Ainto the cylinder 9 and the pipe .7 4 iextends into the revolving unit `16. A shutter is provided fforithe pipes. y

From ,the foregoing descriptionof the lv a rions parts of the device, the operation-,thereot maybe readily understood. When Vthe shaft 7 iis operatively connected to a power means, not shown, theshaft 2rWillabe rotated 16, the pinion 53 which is `in mesh AWith'sthe` ring gear 52 is rotated, thus rotating .the cam 55. During the rotation ofthefcam 55, the agitator arms '44 are-moved With aviolent irregular action,duetothe contact of'thcfcam roller 58 With the cam 55. This 'movement is created by the cam roller 58 .riding npon theenlarged portions 56 and then beingreceived in the reduced portions 57. As the cam `roller .58 .rides upon the enlarged `portions 56, the speed ot' the rotationoftheiunit j" 16 is decreased, and as the cam roller 58 passes over the enlarged portion 56 into the reduced portion 57, the revolving unit 16 increases its speed of rotation. This causes the vibratory as Well as a rotative movement of the unit 16.

During this movement of the unit 16, the wheat grains will be received in the pockets 27 and as the wheat is relatively round, it will pass through the openings 26 over the lips 25 and upon the outer screen 31. The slots or openings 32 in the outer screen 31 are relatively flat and will not permit the wheat grains to pass therethrough. Therefore, the wheat O'rains are carried by the spiral 30 to the end of the outer screen 31 where they pass from the rotating unit 16 int-o and through the outlet pipe 35.

lt is obvious that smaller grains, such as mustard seed and other particles, such as dust, may pass through the openings 26 and upon the outer screen 31. However, the openings 32 are of sufficient size to allow the smaller Orains and dust to Dass therethrough into the bottom of the casing 1. These smaller grains, together with the dust, are moved into alignmentwith the outlet opening 38 by the spiral 37. Relatively long grains, such as oats and barley may be received in the pockets 27, but due to their length are prevented from passing through the openings 26. An illustration of this is given in dotted lines in Figure 4. The tapered portions 29 of the pockets 27 provide a trap for receiving the pointed ends of the oat or barley grains as they pass into the pockets 27, thus holding these grains until the revolving unit has been moved to a point sufficient to allow these grains to drop out of the pockets. As the unit 16 rotates, the oat and barley grains are moved by the spiral 23 to the extremity of the unit where the grains pass through the outlet opening 36.

Let us assume that the device is used in connection with a thrashing machine and that the owner of the grain does not wish to have the grain cleaned. The shutter is moved into engagement with the grain pipe 73, thus permitting the grain to pass from the main pipe 74 through the pipe 72. By moving the nut 71 into engagement with the pin 43, the spiral 15 upon the shaft 2 may rotate within the cylinder 9 without rotating the unit 16. In this manner, the grain passing through the grain pipe 72 and into the cylinder 9 will be carried through the cylinder and deposited within the casing 1 where it will pass therefrom through the outlet 36.

In Figures 10 and 11, I have shown a simpliiied form of agitating means. This means consists of a cam lever which is mounted upon a sleeve 81. The sleeve 81 is provided with a tapered surface 82 and a threaded portion 83 for receiving a tapered nut 84.

The cani lever 80 is rigidly held in engagement with the sleeve 81 by the nut 84. The sleeve 81 is secured to the shaft 2 by a removable pin 85. A set of agitator arms 86 is rigidly held between the cam lever 80 and the disc 18. Collars 87 are carried by the outer ends of the agitator arms 86 and are provided with retaining rods 88. rlhe retaining rods 88 extend through flanges 89 which are integral with the disc 18. 4Compression springs are disposed concentric with the rods 88 and are held in engagement with the flanges 89 by wing nuts 91. The tension of the springs 90 may be varied by moving the wing nuts 91 upon the rods 88. A cam roller 92 is carried by one of the agitator arms 86 and is disposed in engagement with a cam 93. The cam 93 is identical in construction to the cam 55 shown in Figure 8. The cam 93 is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 94 which is rotatably carried by one end of the cam lever 80. A pinion 95 is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 94 and is in mesh with the ring gear 52. The free end of the cam lever 80 is provided with a retaining rod 96 which extends through a lug` 97 which is integral with one of the agitator arms 86. A spring 98 is disposed concentric with the retaining rod 96 and is held in engagement with the lug 97 by a wing nut 99.

claim:

1. A device of the type described, comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably disposed in said casing, a revolving unit disposed in said casing, means for yieldingly securing said revolving unit to said shaft, and means operated by rotation of said shaft to impart an oscillatory movement to said unit relative to said shaft.

- 2. A device of the type described comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably disposed in said casing, a revolving unit disposed in said casing, resilient means supporting said revolving unit upon said shaft, means for rotating said revolving unit, and means on said shaft for alternately increasing and decreasing the speed of said revolving unit. A

3. A devicel of the type described comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a revolving unit disposed upon said shaft, an arm carried by said shaft, means for rigidly securing said arm to said shaft, resilient means for connecting said arm to said unit, means for varying the movement of said unit with respect to said shaft, said means comprising a cam roller carried by said arm, a cam, and means for actuating said cam for moving said arm with respect to said unit.

4. A device of the type described comprising a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a unit disposed concentric with said shaft, arms carried by said shaft, resilient means for securing one of said arms to said unit, a cam roller carried by the other of said arms, a hammer member also carried by the other an1n,-.azsto,p carried ,bysaid nnitaand arranged to engage :said 'hammer member, and means for engaging said cam roller for moving said unit with 4respect'to said .armsand said'shaft.

At device of the typedescrifbed .comprising a shaft, means for rotatinglsaid shaft, a Lmitidisposed concentric with said shaft, arms carried :b57 said shaft, resilient means for securing` lone eff said `arms to 4said nnit, a cam roller `ic-airried :by the other of `said arms, a lriarrnmfer anerniber also carried :by the other anni, a stop carried. by said `.unit and arranged te engage said hammer member, :and means for engaging; said cam roller for movingsaid unit with respect to said arms and said shaft, said resilient means being adapted to return said unit to tlie normal position With lrespect to said arms and said shaft.

G. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, a nevolving screen unit disposed 1n said casing', means yieldingly supporting said unit upon said shaft and means operable by rotation of said shaft to strike said unit periodically and impart a shaking motion thereto.

7. ln a machine of the character described, a drive shaft, a drinn screen mounted on said shaft, means resiliently securing said screen to said shaft whereby relative angular movement of one relative to the other is permitted, and means for periodically strikingsaid drum a blow ina direction to cause it to rock about said shaft.

8. In a machine of the character described, a drive shaft, a drum screen mounted on said shaft, means resiliently securing said screen to said shaft whereby relative angular movement oi' one relative to the other is permitted, and means for periodically striking said drum a blow in a direction to cause it to rock about said shaft, said. last named means being oper ated by rotation of said shaft.

9. ln a machine of the character described, a drive shaft, a drum screen mounted on said shaft, means resiliently securing` said screen to said shaft whereby relative angular movement ot one relative to the other is permitted, and means for periodically striking said drum a blow ina direction to cause it t0 rock about said shaft, said last named means including an arm mounted on said shaft.

JOHN EDVARD JOHNSON. 

